Embalming-board



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. W. N. CLARK.

BMBALMING BOARD. A No. 452,070. Patented May l2, 1891.

n l i l l l 7V( i L 2' Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

W. 11.` CLARK. EMBALMIlIG` BOARD.

vvPatented May 12, 1891.

awww/Lto@ UNITED .STATES PATENT l OFFICE.

WALTER N. CLARK, OFWARREN, OHIO.

l-:MBALMING-BOARD.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,070, dated May 12,1891.

Application filed April 11, 1890. Serial No. @47,432. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WALTER N. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Warren7 in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Embalming-Boards; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relatesto improvements in embalIning-boards; and theinvention consists in an embalming-board constructed, combined, andoperating substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointedout in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of anembalming-board constructed according to my invention, the full linesshowing the board shortened and the dotted lines showing it extended tofull length. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section, on anenlarged scale, of the board as it appears in full lines in Fig. l andon line @c ,fr on said figure. Fig. 3 is a bottom View of the full boardshortened, as shown in Fig-sl and 2, and having' the legs folded, as intransportation or when set out of the way. Fig. L.tis an end elevationwith a part at one side broken away in section to show the extensiblefeatures. Fig. 5 is a section on line m x, Fig. 4, showing theconstruction where the canopyvstandards are removably attached to theframe. Fig. 6 is a perspective v-iew of a section 0f the top or coveringshown inv dotted lines in Fig. 1, said section consisting of two hingedfolding parts, as and for the purpose hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is asection, enlarged, on line x Fig. 3, showing the springpressed bolt forlocking the head-rest. Fig. S is an enlarged detail of one of thespringpressed catches for holding down the ends of the top.

The main frame consists of two sections A B, extensibly connected by atongue-andgroove joint, as seen in Fig. 4, or the equivalent thereof,the extensibility being such as to accommodate the longest bodies on theboard, and the range being from this to the size adapted to infants, asseen in full lines, Fig. 1. Each section is provided with a pair of legsC, connected by a bar c, to which they are firmly fastened by anysuitable means and supported by hinges d on cross-boards D, fixed on thesides of the frame-sectionAor B, as the case may be. These legs C are soarranged that they do not interfere in folding, and are designed whenfolded to lie horizontally on the bottom of the frame and be out of theway as well as in a compact position for transportation. A spring-arm F.to each section, secured to a center cross-piece of the lnain frame,extends to make engagement with the cross-bar c, connecting each set oflegs, and has a shoulder on its top near, its outer extremity toengagesaid bar and hold the same firmly when the legs are spread. Thehead-section F of the board is hinged at f and adjustable in elevationby brace-bars G, hinged on the under side of said section and adapted toengage ratchet-teeth g on a suitable bar or its equivalent iixed on theinside of the side pieces of the main frame. Keepers or guides g serveto conne said brace-bars or pawls G in working position. By this meansany desired elevation of the head and shoulder section of the board maybe obtained, and the said section is readily lowered to a plane with theothers. At each end is a spring-pressed hook K, engaging a catch K onthe cross-bar of the end of the frame, which serves to hold therespective parts together. l

L represents a folding detachable section of the top, having hinges Zmidway and adapted to form an extension of the board either the fulllength thereof or half thelength, with onehalt' standing up as afoot-board. This hinged section and the supplemental section M,dot tedlines, Fig. 1, serve to give all the extension to the board required.The said boardsections throughout are preferably made ot perforatedveneer. When not in use, the separate and removable sections are stowedaway on suitable projections or supports in on the inner side of themain frame, Fig. 2. This is done before the ends of the frame are pushedtogether, as seen in said figure.

N represents a head-rest having a standard with perforations n, by orthrough which it is vertically adjustable, and o is a bolt having acollar and a spring o bearing against the ICO collar and supported in abox o2, whereby the said standard is locked and held in any givenposition. The head-section of the board has a hand-hold, through whichthe said lock is reached, and an opening for the passage of thesiandardof thehead-rest. Both head-rest and standard are independentlyadjustable.

P are the canopy standards or supports provided with headed screws p,adapted to engage in key-hole slots 9 in a plate R in the end of themain frame at the corners thereof. The form of these slots is shown inFigs. et and 5. By this construction the said standards are readilyattachable and detachable.

The idea underlying the construction herein described is to obtain anextensible embalniing-board so constructed that the best results ineinbalming maybe obtained. To this end it is necessary that theboardshould be capable of varying elevation for the head and shoulders ofthesubject to give the proper ilow and density to the embalming-tluid whenit is injected and in settling to the different parts of the body.

In many cases dilliculty in einballning occurs because the bodyis notplaced on asupport by which the elevations to get the best eit'ects canbe obtained, and hence there is liability of discoloration in the face,which should be avoided. By my construction I can get as much elevationor depression to the shoulders and head as the case may require, andthis may be varied during the process of einbalming, or sometimesafterward, before the body is placed in the casket. The hinged sectionof the board or top (shown in Fig. 6) gives two lengths or sizes andaffords afoot-rest when half the length or size is employed. When theboard is used full length, as shown in Fig. 1, the hinged section is atthe bottom or foot of the board.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An embalrning-board comprising the extensible main frame,ahinged andadjustable headsection having at its free end a springpressed hookengaging a catch on the main frame,asupplemental section, as H, alsohaving a spring-pressed catch engaging a hook on the main frame, saidsections having openings for giving access to said hooks, a foldingdetachable section, one of the parts of which is adapted to serve asafoot-board, and standards on the frame for supporting the same.

2. An embalming-board comprising tl1e fol lowing parts in combination:an extensible main frame constructed to provide an interior receptacle,a hinged and adjustable head-section having at its free end aspring-presscd hook engaging a catch on the main frame, an independentlyadjustable head rest carried by said head-section, a supplementalsection, as M, havinga spring-pressed catch engaging a hook on the mainframe, a folding detachable section consisting of a plurality of partshinged together, one of which is adapted to serveas a foot-board, saidfolding section being located within the main frame when not in use, andstandards on the main traine for supporting the foot-board part of saidfolding section.

fitness my hand to the foregoing specilication this 20th day of March,1890.

WALTER N. CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

s. B. cm, E. D. SNIDER.

